Available worldwide via Amazon (Kindle Edition)
US: $5.99
Other regions: Local Amazon pricing
Available here:
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0GMXLX56T
If artificial intelligence had a conscience, Demis Hassabis would probably be the one trying to map it. Calm, analytical and quietly intense, he moves through the AI world not like a CEO but like a scholar who accidentally founded a company that changed the trajectory of science.
If the AI revolution had a face, it would probably be Sam Altman’s—calm, slightly amused and carrying the expression of someone who has already seen the future and is quietly negotiating its terms. As CEO of OpenAI, Altman stands in the eye of a technological hurricane, steering the most influential intelligence project since humanity discovered fire—and arguably one that comes with more paperwork.
If the past few years felt fast, 2025 is something else entirely. Suddenly everyone is talking about Kosmos, “AI scientists”, autonomous agents and systems that seem to learn, reason and create at unbelievable speed. But for most people, the AI world feels like a maze: many names, many models and very little clarity.
Every major technological leap in history has reshaped the world long before society was ready for it. The industrial revolution transformed the way we worked, produced, travelled and lived — but it also brought decades of disruption, dislocation and uncertainty. Not because anyone intended harm, but because the speed of transformation outpaced the ability of people, institutions and governments to adapt.
For decades, financial leadership was defined by discipline, analytical rigor and a deep understanding of markets. Icons like Warren Buffett epitomized this model — a patient, methodical and data-driven approach to investing that prioritized stability and long-term value. But the world is changing and so too must the definition of leadership in finance.
When inflation rises, housing becomes unattainable and inequality grows, the idea of “economic progress” starts to collapse. This piece explores what happens when markets forget the people they are meant to serve.
For decades, economic success has been measured through rising GDP, expanding markets and record-high stock valuations. Yet across Europe and much of the world, citizens experience something entirely different: a cost of living crisis, shrinking access to housing, stagnant wages and widening inequality.
While the world often focuses on Wall Street, a quieter revolution is unfolding in China. Once seen primarily as the “factory of the world”, China is now emerging as a global powerhouse in digital finance, leveraging technology, scale and state coordination to reshape the rules of capital. From mobile payments to digital banking, fintech innovation in China is not just about efficiency— it’s a strategic move to extend influence beyond its borders.
Europe’s economy stands tall in innovation, trade and regulatory influence. Yet, when it comes to finance, it remains a continent divided — a mosaic of stock exchanges, regulatory regimes and investment cultures. From Frankfurt’s DAX to Amsterdam’s AEX, from Milan to Madrid, Europe’s financial power is spread thin across borders. And while the European Union has mastered monetary integration through the euro, true financial integration remains elusive.
As the world watches the relentless advance of technology, Europe often finds itself cast as the cautious sibling to the audacious innovators of Silicon Valley, the manufacturing behemoth of China or the strategic pivot points of Taiwan. But caution, in this case, may be a strength rather than a weakness.
